Mexico under Cocca is a mess after Nations League loss to USA

Simply put, Thursday was an embarrassing mess for Mexico’s men’s national team.

From the ineffective tactics of manager Diego Cocca, to his overwhelmed players, to even up in the stands of Allegiant Stadium where fans took part in anti-gay chants in Las Vegas, the 3-0 Concacaf Nations League loss against the United States was one of the most significant low points for El Tri in their modern era.

It was also a stark reminder that the once-dominant team of the region has continued to lose ground to their rivals. In what was a golden opportunity to wrest back the spotlight, Mexico’s efforts — including those involved with the national federation and Liga MX — have regressed even further.

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For Cocca, who was facing his first major test since taking charge in February, there was a timidness in his tactical approach. More worried about losing to the USMNT than about creating attacking pressure, the Argentine coach took risks by not taking any at all, regularly letting the opposition dictate the pace of the game.

An unwillingness to ditch his three-man back line also foreshadowed his eventual failure. With just one U.S. striker to defend, Cocca insisted on having an extra central defender, leaving plenty of space for the U.S. to easily sprint into dangerous areas in transition.

Mexico’s players didn’t do themselves any favors either. Often a step or two behind the movement of the USMNT, starters such as Jesus Gallardo, Israel Reyes and Jorge Sanchez were disorganized as they clumsily tried to halt oncoming players.

Down 1-0 by halftime after a goal from American captain Christian Pulisic, Cocca had a chance to alter his tactics at the break. Completely outplayed in the first 45 minutes, he was given a window to bring on another midfielder or to refresh his attack with the immediate incorporation of someone like Feyenoord star striker Santiago Gimenez.

But that’s not what happened. Sticking to what didn’t work in the first half, Mexico stepped out into the second with the same setup, unsurprisingly allowing a goal just one minute after halftime by Pulisic again.

Thereafter, the match became chaotic and scrappy. Unnecessary aggression from both sides led to a flurry of fouls. Red cards would follow, with two earned per team. El Tri did end up improving slightly amid the disarray through second-half substitutions, but that didn’t stop the USMNT from deservedly notching the night’s final goal in the 78th minute.

The icing on the bitter cake for Mexico in that third goal? It was scored by U.S. substitute Ricardo Pepi, an up-and-coming dual-national forward who selected to represent the USMNT over El Tri in 2021.

“Being here, winning 3-0 … [it] reaffirms my decision and, well, it makes me happy,” Pepi said after the match.

Unable to do much else in response, Mexico would go on to finish the match with more reds than shots on target. Up in the stands, supporters loudly belted their anti-gay chant during U.S. goal kicks, eventually forcing referee Ivan Barton to pause the game in the 89th minute. When the match resumed and 12 minutes of injury time were shown, Barton called the game four minutes early after more instances of the discriminatory chant.

Concacaf told ESPN that the match wasn’t abandoned because of protocols regarding the chant, but instead at the “referee’s discretion.”

Following the largest shutout loss for Mexico against the USMNT since a 3-0 defeat in a 2000 friendly, Cocca looked disheartened and fatigued.

“They beat us, we have to accept it, we have to understand it,” said the coach, his first defeat after a modest five-game unbeaten streak (two wins, three draws) sparking widespread criticism of the team’s performances. “If you believe you’re going to fix this in four months, you’re completely mistaken. This is a sign that there’s still a lot to improve.”

The thing is, there’s much more to be corrected than what Cocca or his players can do alone.

Mexico’s lull extends to the execs in charge

While it’s simple to point to figures on the field and on the sideline, those in charge of Mexican soccer have done a poor job in recent years of guiding everything from youth national teams to both the men’s and women’s senior sides.

Mexico’s senior men’s team, which flopped out of the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, is now without a title in both editions of the Nations League and winless in the past six games against the USMNT. On the youth side, the men’s U20 squad didn’t qualify for the 2023 U20 World Cup or the 2024 Olympics, while the women’s senior national team will miss this year’s Women’s World Cup and next year’s Olympics.

Shaken up by these disappointments, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has gone through a number of staffing adjustments over the past 11 months.

Relating to just the senior men’s side, we’ve seen: the firing of general sporting director Gerardo Torrado and sporting director of national teams Ignacio Hierro, the hiring and eventual exit of Jaime Ordiales as sporting director for men’s national teams, the exit of men’s coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, the hiring of Rodrigo Ares de Parga as the executive director of national teams, the hiring of Duilio Davino as sporting director of men’s national teams, the hiring of Cocca as the new men’s coach, the exit of former FMF president Yon de Luisa and the election of Juan Carlos Rodriguez as the new FMF president.

To add even more to the shakeup, Rodriguez transitioned to commissioner president in a restructuring of the federation earlier this week, and as part of that restructure, Ivar Sisniega was given the position of executive president.

In fairness to Sisniega and Rodriguez and the new structure that now includes Liga MX Femenil (Mexico’s women’s top flight) in the FMF’s executive committee, both have set lofty goals that promise a focus on sporting matters over business and fewer conflicts of interest.

That said, if you’re a manager or player, you’re likely not looking over your shoulder and thinking there’s much stability surrounding you or a long-term plan.

And if we’re highlighting the deeper issues that have impacted Mexican men’s soccer, Liga MX must be mentioned as well, especially with the lack of transfers abroad.

Liga MX also needs to improve

While MLS has made a recognizable effort to send players to Europe who have boosted the depth and strength of the USMNT, Liga MX tends to look more insular in an inflated transfer market that keeps countless Mexican players from moving abroad. This alone isn’t the only factor affecting moves to Europe, but it’s a powerful one nonetheless when Liga MX clubs are willing to spend more on domestic players.

For example, remember defender Kevin Alvarez? He’s arguably No. 3 in the depth chart at right-back for Mexico right now, after Ajax’s Sanchez and Barcelona’s Julian Araujo. Alvarez had a lackluster Liga MX season in the 2023 Clausura, but still managed an astounding $11 million transfer fee from Pachuca to Club America, according to Pachuca manager Guillermo Almada himself in late May.

Coupled with an ongoing pause on promotion/relegation, a short-season format that makes it difficult to debut academy players, clubs sharing ownership, and a playoff format that is expanded beyond eight teams, it’s understandable why many have felt that Liga MX is holding back the Mexican game.

Liga MX president Mikel Arriola announced changes recently, but those are only small steps in the right direction and gradual alterations when the league should be taking greater leaps forward.

Fan resentment and ongoing chant issue

So you take that from Liga MX, the FMF, just one title from Mexico’s men’s national team since 2016, and what you get is the fan anger that is frequently and inappropriately channeled through the offensive and derogatory anti-gay chant at matches.

In one incident in 2021, a “#SinAscensoNoHayMundial” campaign (#WithoutPromotionTheresNoWorldCup) was created by fans who were frustrated with the lack of promotion opportunities and eligibility for clubs in the lower leagues. Eventually representing wider anger with Mexican soccer, the campaign called on supporters to chant in matches at the 2021 Gold Cup.

The behavior is unacceptable and disgusting, and the Mexican federation and Concacaf should do a much better job of punishing those infractions. Fans have a right to be angry over the team’s struggles — and the high prices they’re paying for tickets to these games — but using the derogatory chant to express their frustration has no place in the sport.

“These incidents were extremely disappointing and tarnished what should have been a positive occasion to showcase high-quality football in our region,” Concacaf said late Thursday.

Regarding Mexico’s on-pitch performance, will anything actually change going forward?